A day after being summoned by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is probing police firing incidents during the 2015 sacrilege controversy, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar denied having any association with Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the jailed leader of Dera Sacha Sauda.

“I have never ever met Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in my life, anywhere… I learnt from social media at some point that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh resided for a while at some place in my locality Juhu, in Mumbai but we never ever crossed each other’s paths,” the actor said in a statement on Twitter.

“Over the years, I have dedicatedly made films promoting the Punjabi culture, and the rich history and tradition of Sikhishm through films like Singh is King, Kesari (based on the Battle of Saragarhi) etc. I am proud of being a Punjabi and have the highest regard for the Sikh faith. I shall never do anything that would even remotely hurt the sentiments of my Punjabi brothers and sisters, for whom I have utmost respect and love.”

“My statement above is the utmost and absolute truth. I challenge anyone who can prove it otherwise,” Akshay added.

Akshay has been asked to appear before the SIT of Punjab Police on November 21. Apart from Kumar, the SIT has also summoned former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal. The summons have been issued under Section 160 of the CrPC, requiring attendance during the investigation.

Akshay’s name was mentioned in Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report on the sacrilege incidents at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan in Faridkot in 2015.